Costa tipped to put public transport back on the railsBy Alex Mitchell, State political editor March 23 2003

Police Minister Michael Costa is tipped to become Transport Minister in the next Carr cabinet, replacing the embattled Carl Scully.

Sydney Lord Mayor Frank Sartor, the newly elected "star" of the new Government, is set to become the state's first science minister in charge of promoting cutting-edge stem cell research and the fight against cancer.

The new police and emergency services minister is likely to be Richard Amery, the current Corrective Services Minister, who is also tipped to become Leader of the House.

By stepping into the joint role, Mr Amery, a former policeman, would follow the precedent of recently retired Strathfield MP Paul Whelan, who held both jobs from 1995 to 2001.

Mr Scully's career was derailed by the Waterfall train disaster which marred the start of Labor's re-election campaign and he has been out of favour ever since.

He is likely to be given a low-profile portfolio such as water and land conservation or information technology until he has been "rehabilitated".

The other big loser will be Fisheries and Mineral Resources Minister Eddie Obeid, who will quit the ministry after embarrassing the Government last year when it was revealed he had made 154 errors in his declaration of pecuniary interest over the past decade.

He is destined for retirement to the backbench for the remainder of his parliamentary career.

Another minister on the skids is Carr super-loyalist and Fair Trading Minister John Aquilina, whose career has never recovered from the Cecil Hills High School gun scandal, which resulted in his removal from the education portfolio.

The biggest change to Mr Carr's new government will be a streamlined, integrated bureaucracy to run the Premier's Department and the Cabinet Office.

He also favours the establishment of super-ministries, one of which will combine state development, planning and major infrastructure to create a one-stop shop for major projects.

He will also speed the process of voluntarily merging councils into stronger, more effective administrations.

Mr Carr is also considering a master plan to dismantle the Department of Gaming and Racing, giving revenue responsibilities to Treasury, racing to the Department of Sport and creating a NSW Gaming Commission to supervise gaming in clubs, pubs and the Star City casino.

After his third election victory, Mr Carr has earned the authority to override factional bosses and handpick his next ministry.

His major difficulty is that too many promises have been made to too many MPs that they will be rewarded with ministries.

Some ambitious MPs are going to be bitterly disappointed. Those who are in contention for cabinet promotion are Country Labor convener Tony Kelly, Keira's David Campbell, Swansea's Milton Orkopoulos, Bankstown's Tony Stewart, Upper House left-winger Ian Macdonald, Mulgoa's Diane Beamer and Cabramatta's Reba Meagher.

Maitland MP and previous Deputy Speaker John Price is a front-runner to become Speaker.

While Mr Carr's inclination is to keep changes to an absolute minimum, he has a collection of "young Turks" thirsting for office.

Some were elected in 1995 and are now in their third term. They have been trialled as parliamentary secretaries but are now demanding places in the cabinet and the perks that go with ministerial positions.

Even though Mr Carr has delivered a stunning victory, he hasn't impressed all of his colleagues with his overly cautious approach.

The left wing, as opposed to the compliant Deputy Premier Andrew Refshauge, are concerned about the Government's economic and social direction. If they are left out of cabinet they will be more vocal in opposing Treasury-driven policy, which goes against the spirit and letter of ALP conference policy.

On the right, Blacktown MP Paul Gibson, who raises enormous sums of money for the ALP, will become a backbench maverick if he is overlooked.

He will become a rallying point for other malcontents who may choose to make life difficult for ministers.